Online bid to raise funeral costs for popular Leeds woman

Grieving friends and family of a Leeds woman who died last month have launched a crowd-funding campaign to raise £2,000 to pay for her funeral.

Grandmother-of-two Olga Schuman, of Cross Gates, died suddenly on January 12 aged just 54 and her family are desperate to give her the send off she deserves.

But daughter Kelly Greene, 37, of Chapel Allerton, said she cannot afford to pay for a funeral out of her own pocket.

She initially had to wait for a death certificate from the coroner before approaching Leeds City Council about a public health funeral, but said she has been told said it could take up to 28 days. She said: “I just want to lay my mum to rest. I can’t believe it costs so much and takes so long. If I could do it myself, I’d do it tomorrow. But it’s so expensive. I want to give her a good send-off. She was known everywhere, she was such a loving, giving person.”

Kelly’s friend Bianca Canavan, 31, set up the online page which raised £500 in its first 12 hours - enough for the funeral deposit. She said: “I didn’t think it would do as well as it’s done but Olga was very popular and was such a nice person. She deserves a big send-off. She’d have wanted a lively celebration.”

The YEP reported yesterday how Leeds charges among the nation’s highest fees for burials and cremations and has held more than 864 public health funerals since 2007 as people struggle to meet funeral costs.